Bijbiara

Bijbehara, also known as Vijeshwara and Vejibyour, is one of the major and popular town in Kashmir. It is located on National Highway NH-1 A, connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India. Bijbehara town is also known as "Chinar Town" because of two Chinar gardens (Paadshaahi Bagh and Darashukoh Garden) which are known for their Chinars (Platanus orientalis) trees. The town is near the oldest Chinar tree in the state, which is about 9 kilometres from the Anantnag township and 45 km from the summer capital, Srinagar.The town localities of Bijbehara include Goriwan chowk, Old town Ziyarat road, Baba Mohalla, Zirpara chowk, Sadar Bazar, Vaid Mohalla, Dobighat, Khar Mohalla, Eidgah, Pandit Hamaam, Pomposh Mohalla, Goriwan Saraf Mohalla, Peershah Mohalla, Ahanger Mohalla, Feroze Shah Mohalla, Sheikh Mohalla, and GH pora.The town has recently expanded to include new housing colonies such as New Colony Bijbehara, Eidgah basti, Qazi Mohalla, Sicop Colony, Padshahi Bagh Colony, Friends Colony, Deewan Bagh, Eidgah Colony, and Tehsil Road-Baghandar.The important villages on the outskirts of town include Pazalpora, Jablipora, Arwani, Subhaanpora,Sangam and Semthan.HistoryMythologically, the city was created by Shiva in Treeta Yuga.The Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh built a bridge which was 100-yards long and 6-yards wide, spanning the Jhelum River at Bijbehara, near the Mughal garden. The bridge was washed away by heavy floods.The oldest Chinar tree of the sub-continent, at 70 feet circumference at ground level, is located among 24 others in a garden popularly known as Padshahi Bagh. The Padshahi Garden consists of 25 kanals and 10 marlas. The Dara Shikoh Garden is also on the bank of the Jhelum. The garden is of 420 kanals area. The Padshahi Garden and the Dara Shikoh Garden are separated by the river Jehlum, which is spanned by the Padshahi Bagh Bridge. Padshahi Bagh is now under management of the Tourist Department, and J&K Bank is responsible for the park's development and maintenance.